I am an avid fan of the Addams family, and rewatch their movies each Halloween season. When I saw there was to be an animated re-make, I pictured it to be a mixture of the timelessness of their previous films and the entertainment of The Nightmare Before Christmas - fun for the whole family. However, as a young adult, I was not in the least bit entertained. The story line was definitely created for children, depicting the importance of inclusion/acceptance and family bond. Which I'm sure is very important for the younger generations. Yet I just was unable to connect with my long-standing enthusiasm for the Addams family during this movie.
323 Reviews
Entertaining enough
DeadMansTrousers10 October 2019
The intention here is obviously to introduce a new generation to the Addams Family. The film starts completely fresh and tells the origins of the entire family as a stand alone film. As someone who grew up watching the 90s films, cartoons, and re-runs I actually didn't mind this. They presented a straightforward well contained story that has plenty of jokes for both children and adults, which I laughed at enough of to stay entertained throughout the film.
Animated ... evil
kosmasp5 October 2021
The Addams Family ... it's been a while since I saw the live Action movie. And I think I only saw the first movie and not the show or anything else. Still the music is quite iconic ... and it gets introduced here in a very funny way too.
The Addams Family may be morbid, but never too scary for the viewer ... as crazy as it may sound ... like a house yelling at you to get out. Of course for the Addams Family this is music to their ears. But as they are not something anyone would call normal .. they have issues. The moment we meet them ... and later on too. Btw. The latter part of the movie, where mayhem ensues is the one that is the most fun of it all (imho).
A nice little movie that apparently was succesful enough to warrant an upcoming sequel ... great voice/acting talent too.
The Addams Family may be morbid, but never too scary for the viewer ... as crazy as it may sound ... like a house yelling at you to get out. Of course for the Addams Family this is music to their ears. But as they are not something anyone would call normal .. they have issues. The moment we meet them ... and later on too. Btw. The latter part of the movie, where mayhem ensues is the one that is the most fun of it all (imho).
A nice little movie that apparently was succesful enough to warrant an upcoming sequel ... great voice/acting talent too.
Entertaining
rcyoung-0242612 October 2019
I have been a big fan of the Addams Family since I saw the first movie, and looked forward to seeing this on the big screen.
The movie was OK. It was an entertaining hour and a half, but it does not inspire repeated viewing. It actually seems more appropriate as a movie pilot for a new children's show than it does for a movie.
The people who created this obviously had a lot of love for the property, and seemed to have fun with it, which translates well to the screen. But coupled with the thin plot and less than stellar design, there is a lot to be desired.
One bright spot was the first 10 minutes, which served as a sort of an origin story for the clan. I really wish that they had gone that route instead of the by the numbers route they chose for their final product.
The movie was OK. It was an entertaining hour and a half, but it does not inspire repeated viewing. It actually seems more appropriate as a movie pilot for a new children's show than it does for a movie.
The people who created this obviously had a lot of love for the property, and seemed to have fun with it, which translates well to the screen. But coupled with the thin plot and less than stellar design, there is a lot to be desired.
One bright spot was the first 10 minutes, which served as a sort of an origin story for the clan. I really wish that they had gone that route instead of the by the numbers route they chose for their final product.
Very average animated film with a few good moments
DanielNeil123720 October 2019
The Addams family 2019 is a very run of the mill animated film that ends up feeling very average.
Being a major fan of The Addams Family from the original films from the 90s I was really disappointed with the film. Our story follows the entire Addams family years after they have moved into their mansion being hidden there for years after being chased away by angry civilians. Now since to a new house flip tv show, they are discovered with the show host wanting to destroy their house to make it fit in with the neighborhood. On top of that Pugsly Addams is having to prepare to do a famous sword pattern that is a tradition to prove he is truly an Addams. In front of the entire Addams family and all their relatives. This subplot with Pugsly is one of many there is even another one about Wednesday Addams trying to fit in at school becoming an issue with the film having too many subplots. The main message of the film is one we have heard 100 times with accepting people in your town who are different because we are all unique in our own ways. This is a good message for kids but the message is shoved in way too much, and they don't reinvent the presentation of the message in any way, or try anything new to make it more interesting. I thought the film never fully did the characters justice especially the family relationship aspect. It had a few great performances that being Chole Grace Moretz as Wednesday Addams and Charlize Theron as Morticia Addams. Some of the imagery can be pretty cool with the house, using the character designs from the original comic strip and some scenes have good humor. Major issues with the film are in the story being extremely basic and not taking many risks. With like I mentioned earlier way too many subplots that can be extremely uninteresting. Overall The Addams family ends up being just okay with a few good moments sprinkled throughout but having an extremely basic story and not going all the way with the family's classic humor, dark style.
Fairly Entertaining
view_and_review4 October 2021
After getting a couple of live action versions of "The Addams Family'' in the 90's (which I loved), we get an animated version. Gomez (voiced by Oscar Isaac) is still crazy in love with Morticia (voiced by Charlize Theron). Wednesday (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz) is still a monotone harbinger of doom and Pugsley (voiced by Finn Wolfhard) is still the frequent object of Wednesday's experiments to get rid of him.
This movie could be considered The Addams Family origin story. It begins when Gomez and Morticia are just getting married and also being ran out of town by an angry mob. They find Lurch (voiced by Conrad Vernon) and also find an old asylum at the top of a spooky hill to be their new digs. For them it was perfect. Life was spooktacular for them for thirteen years until a "Flip or Flop" type TV show led by a woman named Margaux Needler (voiced by Allison Janney) decided to renovate the town below the Addamses. This new town of Assimilation was everything antithetical to the Addams: it was clean, colorful, cheery, and full of Stepford people. A town such as this would not have a good value while being under the shadow of the Addams Family's dark derelict lair.
While Margaux plotted to make the Addams conform, Wednesday was going through a rebellious stage and even put a barrett in her hair, and Pugsley was having a difficult time learning the Marsuka (an Addams Family sword dance that was a right of passage). The Addams were facing a crisis of sorts. "The Addams Family" was mildly amusing and fairly entertaining. I don't think there needed to be an animated version, but that's Hollywood now: animate what was once live action and make live action what was once animated.
This movie could be considered The Addams Family origin story. It begins when Gomez and Morticia are just getting married and also being ran out of town by an angry mob. They find Lurch (voiced by Conrad Vernon) and also find an old asylum at the top of a spooky hill to be their new digs. For them it was perfect. Life was spooktacular for them for thirteen years until a "Flip or Flop" type TV show led by a woman named Margaux Needler (voiced by Allison Janney) decided to renovate the town below the Addamses. This new town of Assimilation was everything antithetical to the Addams: it was clean, colorful, cheery, and full of Stepford people. A town such as this would not have a good value while being under the shadow of the Addams Family's dark derelict lair.
While Margaux plotted to make the Addams conform, Wednesday was going through a rebellious stage and even put a barrett in her hair, and Pugsley was having a difficult time learning the Marsuka (an Addams Family sword dance that was a right of passage). The Addams were facing a crisis of sorts. "The Addams Family" was mildly amusing and fairly entertaining. I don't think there needed to be an animated version, but that's Hollywood now: animate what was once live action and make live action what was once animated.
I fell asleep twice
julieann_wallace24 October 2019
Funny and Entertaining
claudio_carvalho20 January 2020
Gomes and Morticia Addams move to a derelict mansion in New Jersey surrounded by a marsh and hidden by a fog in the top of a mountain to raise a family. Thirteen years later, Gomes is teaching his son Pugslay the saber tradition of the Addams family while Wednesday is questioning her mother about the world outside the mansion gate. Meanwhile a community is raised by Margaux Needler, who is the responsible for the sales of the house, and the marsh is drained. When she sees the old mansion on the neighborhood, she decides to get rid of the Addams Family.
"The Addams Family" is a funny and entertaining movie for the family. The plot is silly but works in an afternoon. The residents acting like puppets manipulated by fake news and the teenage rebellion are the best moments. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "A Família Addams" ("The Addams Family")
"The Addams Family" is a funny and entertaining movie for the family. The plot is silly but works in an afternoon. The residents acting like puppets manipulated by fake news and the teenage rebellion are the best moments. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "A Família Addams" ("The Addams Family")
Snaps for Addams Family
mr_bickle_the_pickle12 October 2019
I thought this was a horrifyingly good time. I thought it was funny and got some genuine laughs out of me. Yes, there are jokes that are going to be more geared towards kids like fart jokes for instance...it is a family movie afterall. But plenty little nods and winks for the adults to enjoy as well. It had nice message to it as well..embracing people for who they are and all, and there was some possible coding in the movie that I thought was interesting too. I didnt bring any kids with me but this was plenty of them in my theater and they seem to be quite engaged with the story and were laughing along with it. There were a couple of things - mostly character wise - that didnt always ring true. Like at one point (as Wednesday is going through a bit of rebellious phase) decides to run away...and you'd think the family would like that sort of thing considering how opposite they are to modern society. But they don't. That didnt really detract from my overall enjoyment though.
Other things I liked, I thought the cast did a good job. Most notably Charlize Theron as Morticia and Chloe Grace Moretz as Wednesday. I really thought they had the essence of their characters down. If I had to pick a weak link, I'd say Finn Wolfhard. Its not that he's bad....but it felt like he could be voicing anyone, you know. There wasnt a moment where I felt "Yes, that's Pugsley".
Overall, it was cute and I enjoyed it. And I think this will be a fun movie to re-visit.
Other things I liked, I thought the cast did a good job. Most notably Charlize Theron as Morticia and Chloe Grace Moretz as Wednesday. I really thought they had the essence of their characters down. If I had to pick a weak link, I'd say Finn Wolfhard. Its not that he's bad....but it felt like he could be voicing anyone, you know. There wasnt a moment where I felt "Yes, that's Pugsley".
Overall, it was cute and I enjoyed it. And I think this will be a fun movie to re-visit.
Reviews Here Are Deceptive.
betchaareoffendedeasily12 October 2019
I enjoyed most of the film. It is not perfect. the biggest gripe is that I can tell that the original screenplay was re-written. Now, as a child could I tell this? NO, and that is the primary audience. I think adults forget when they watch a movie primarily targeted to children that it will not totally appeal to them. Now, some exceptions to my enjoyment of children's films is the new terrible 2018 Grinch, which was so bad I could tell even the children were not entertained and I actually walked out of theater, this coming from an adult whom enjoys children's films. The problem with the Addams Family, lies in the two major plots, that of Margeaux, and that of Wednesday, the former feels resolved, and the latter does not, I solely blame script revisions on this, there are indeed 5 screenwriters named according to IMDB.
Despite this, I found the film engaging, fun, and funny. I felt it kept both spirit of the TV show and previous films, while adding something new. I don't regret seeing it, and, in fact, I might watch it again. It was well-animated, though I am not a huge fan of how they made Gomez look here, I can overlook it because the film, was on the whole, fun, entertaining, and other than a couple elements; very un-PC, which is very refreshing in this current trend to push hyper PC content that seeks to please a select group, and pleases no one.
If you are looking for family friendly affair that has a bit of adult humor, you could do a heck of a lot worse. On the whole, this is fun, with lots of dark humor, and tons of satire. The first half an hour is really a joy to watch, it is full of quirky and dark humor, if it could have maintained that for the whole film, it would be a classic, but as it remains, it is a decent way to pass 100 minutes. It is something both adults and children should be able to enjoy. At it's heart, it is about how some conformity is not good, some conformity can be beneficial, and the benefits of reaching a compromise. It emphasizes being who you and making your own decision about what you believe as most important. It deserves to make decent money, but with the current hyper PC culture, it might not, which is a shame, it is nice to see a film that, while not totally being defiant of the hype PC culture, at least defies some elements of it.
God Bless~Amy
Despite this, I found the film engaging, fun, and funny. I felt it kept both spirit of the TV show and previous films, while adding something new. I don't regret seeing it, and, in fact, I might watch it again. It was well-animated, though I am not a huge fan of how they made Gomez look here, I can overlook it because the film, was on the whole, fun, entertaining, and other than a couple elements; very un-PC, which is very refreshing in this current trend to push hyper PC content that seeks to please a select group, and pleases no one.
If you are looking for family friendly affair that has a bit of adult humor, you could do a heck of a lot worse. On the whole, this is fun, with lots of dark humor, and tons of satire. The first half an hour is really a joy to watch, it is full of quirky and dark humor, if it could have maintained that for the whole film, it would be a classic, but as it remains, it is a decent way to pass 100 minutes. It is something both adults and children should be able to enjoy. At it's heart, it is about how some conformity is not good, some conformity can be beneficial, and the benefits of reaching a compromise. It emphasizes being who you and making your own decision about what you believe as most important. It deserves to make decent money, but with the current hyper PC culture, it might not, which is a shame, it is nice to see a film that, while not totally being defiant of the hype PC culture, at least defies some elements of it.
God Bless~Amy
Kids loved it, and that's what is important.
shyman0113 October 2019
If your an adult looking to find deeper meaning in an animated move this isn't for you. If you want to watch your kids enjoying a movie while you eat popcorn and drink soda then take your kids and watch them have a good time. It's if you're 6 it's goofy, funny, and the perfect Halloween movie.
hard to sit through
canttiion26 October 2019
I took my 2 younger brothers to go see this since we all had time off from school and wanted an excuse to binge eat movie theater popcorn- this movie is made for literal children, im talking 5-8 year olds. we're all in our teens so its somewhat expected, but the PG rating was enough to convince us that there might be some actually funny stuff. there's are a few jokes here and there that are laughable for older audience members, but the movie as a whole isn't very exciting. they stress the idea of accepting the 'outsiders' so much that it loses the whole macabre spooky Halloween type movie feel, and instead its like the Minions trying to befriend normal people. the animation is predictable and fine but the stylistic choices and overall art style is VERY ugly, and not in a charming Tim Burton or Hotel Transylvania type of way. one of my brothers compared the whole family to 'fancily dressed crackheads' after the movie and we laughed. at least Morticia looks okay. Gomez just looks like Hitler. just wait for this to come out on Netflix or something
A solid modernization.
Darwinskid16 October 2019
Not sure what movie the majority of the critics have seen, for I saw a fairly entertaining reimagining of everyone's favorite family of ghouls that was not only very funny but also had a surprising amount of heart to it. It is not a great, but it is solid enough and the casting for the Addams proves to be brilliantly selected.
I didn't want to like it....but I did.
Amthermandes18 October 2019
First, yes, I too grew up on the 90's movies and the classic 60's sitcom. And yet, I was skeptical about this film. In fact, I didn't want to see it, I wanted to see "Joker," but my wife had her heart set upon this movie. So, in an effort to sacrifice my own happiness for that of my wife, I bought us tickets to see this movie.
And I am pleased to say that I'm glad I did.
The trailers don't do the movie justice, and I was afraid it'd be a typical regurgitated mess of money-grabbing cinema, which is all too familiar with modern Hollywood.
But am I happy to be wrong. Not only was it funny and entertaining, but they did a great job making tribute to the earlier movies, and the classic 1960's show. It's got similar humor to them, and with the animation, is able to make jokes and stunts that you wouldn't, and couldn't, see in a live action set.
Granted, some jokes fall flat, and the first half is waaaaay better than the second. It sort of just peters out once we start reaching the climaxes of the main dilemmas for the characters. And there are some things that I wish they did differently, but don't let all that, or the spoutings of biased haters, or even the short runtime stop you from at least going to the theaters on discount-Tuesdays to have fun with the whole family.
I definitely plan on buying this on Bluray when it comes out.
And the bonus is, now my wife is more eager to see "Joker." So guess what we're doing next Tuesday? Best of both worlds!
And I am pleased to say that I'm glad I did.
The trailers don't do the movie justice, and I was afraid it'd be a typical regurgitated mess of money-grabbing cinema, which is all too familiar with modern Hollywood.
But am I happy to be wrong. Not only was it funny and entertaining, but they did a great job making tribute to the earlier movies, and the classic 1960's show. It's got similar humor to them, and with the animation, is able to make jokes and stunts that you wouldn't, and couldn't, see in a live action set.
Granted, some jokes fall flat, and the first half is waaaaay better than the second. It sort of just peters out once we start reaching the climaxes of the main dilemmas for the characters. And there are some things that I wish they did differently, but don't let all that, or the spoutings of biased haters, or even the short runtime stop you from at least going to the theaters on discount-Tuesdays to have fun with the whole family.
I definitely plan on buying this on Bluray when it comes out.
And the bonus is, now my wife is more eager to see "Joker." So guess what we're doing next Tuesday? Best of both worlds!
Join The Family For Toned Down, Cute Family Fun
rgkarim12 October 2019
LIKES:
Animation/Design Nostalgic Cute Chuckle Fest Good Voice Acting Morals Baked Right In Kids Movie Dream
DISLIKES A Little Contained Semi Preachy Missed Characters Very Simplistic Story Missing the Semi-Disturbed approach this series is famous for
The VERDICT:
The Addams Family 2019 version is a great display of the variability of interpretation and it works well for a family film for the modern audience. A cute theme is the element of this movie, with nonthreatening animation/design to herald the fun chuckle fest that the dialogue and film are about. It's got appropriate voice acting, a nice sense of comedy that makes the world fun, nostalgia that is not overwhelming, and morals baked right in to get the message of acceptance out in the world. Yet, the containment that they took steals away the intensity, edge, and energy that this series is famous for. It's meant to be quirky and slightly disturbing and that element missing, alongside some dropped story elements may not impress the classic fans like they are hoping. While this movie probably would have been better released on nickelodeon or a fan service, it's got enough elements for a family outing, but hold this one for the home viewing for your maximum buck.
My scores are:
Animation/Comedy/Family: 7.5-8.0 Movie Overall: 6.5-7.0
Animation/Design Nostalgic Cute Chuckle Fest Good Voice Acting Morals Baked Right In Kids Movie Dream
DISLIKES A Little Contained Semi Preachy Missed Characters Very Simplistic Story Missing the Semi-Disturbed approach this series is famous for
The VERDICT:
The Addams Family 2019 version is a great display of the variability of interpretation and it works well for a family film for the modern audience. A cute theme is the element of this movie, with nonthreatening animation/design to herald the fun chuckle fest that the dialogue and film are about. It's got appropriate voice acting, a nice sense of comedy that makes the world fun, nostalgia that is not overwhelming, and morals baked right in to get the message of acceptance out in the world. Yet, the containment that they took steals away the intensity, edge, and energy that this series is famous for. It's meant to be quirky and slightly disturbing and that element missing, alongside some dropped story elements may not impress the classic fans like they are hoping. While this movie probably would have been better released on nickelodeon or a fan service, it's got enough elements for a family outing, but hold this one for the home viewing for your maximum buck.
My scores are:
Animation/Comedy/Family: 7.5-8.0 Movie Overall: 6.5-7.0
Even my kid was bored
rob_forgione15 October 2019
Look, I like kids films. Simple, funny. Pixar nails it, Illumination is a close second, but I'll say that even the subpar Abominable was better than this. This was...what? Halloween? A dig on HGTV? A chance for actors to make a paycheck between blockbusters by lending their voices to make a decent cast? I rate kids movies based on the reactions by my kids. I've never seen my kid sit for 90 minutes waiting for a punchline then look at me wondering if we're supposed to leave or stay for the movie to make a point.
Fun Family Film
Reviews_of_the_Dead17 October 2019
Now I grew up on the two films that came out back in the 90's. I've always pushed to watch more horrific things, even when the age might not have been the most appropriate, but those were some of the more family friendly things I saw. A girl I'm seeing recommending checking this out and I agreed to go with her. The synopsis is an animated version of Charles Addams' series of cartoons about a peculiar, ghoulish family.
We start this off with someone getting ready. They screw their boots on and do something similar with their dress. We then see for eye shadow using the ashes of their mother and for blush the ashes of their father. This is Morticia (Charlize Theron) and we see her walking down a cobble street. Normal people flee in fright. She is on her way to her wedding to Gomez Addams (Oscar Isaac). It gets interrupted when the townspeople show up with swords, torches and catapults. They are able to get away thanks to Grandma (Bette Midler) and Uncle Fester (Nick Kroll). The couple then flees to find somewhere they can be themselves.
This takes them to New Jersey. Thing, a dismembered hand that moves on it own, is driving them. They hit someone who is in a straight-jacket. This turns out to be Lurch (Conrad Vernon). His jacket says there's a hospital for the criminally insane nearby and it is actually on top of a hill. They take it over and call it home. The spirit that lives there isn't necessarily happy about it though.
Through pictures we see that this couple has two children. The older is Wednesday (Chloë Grace Moretz) and then Pugsley (Finn Wolfhard). They are constantly trying to kill each other. The house is tense since Puglsey has a party coming up where there's a right of passage that he needs to perform. This involves dancing with a sword and he isn't ready. He instead wants to us explosives. Gomez won't give up on him though.
Things take a turn when the swamp that has hid the Addams family is drained and the fog surrounding them goes away. This reveals their house and much to the displeasure of Margaux Needler (Allison Janney). She is taking on a big endeavor for a renovation show she has to make over a whole town called Assimilation. When the Addams family comes to town and scares people for being different, she wants to try to get them to meet her requirements. Wednesday meets the daughter of Margaux, Parker (Elsie Fisher). Wednesday decides she wants to go to normal school, in part to rebel against her parents and the life she's been forced to live. When Margaux doesn't get her way, she takes matter into her own hands with some dark secrets.
To start off my recap, I first off have to say I'm shocked by the cast that we have in this film. I think that they do well in embodying the characters. Since this is animated, I can't go much off the actual performances. I do think that Isaac puts on a solid accent and takes on Gomez. Theron gives a different vibe to Morticia, but I also liked that. Moretz was a solid Wednesday. It really works that she plays it so deadpan and without emotion. Wolfhard as Pugsley is also quite good. I did have to laugh at the way Kroll does a lisp for Fester and I also thought Janney was good as the villain here. I guess what I'm trying to say is all of the voice acting was good across the board.
The problem that I have is I'm not entirely sure who this film is directed at. It is animated, but I do think a lot of the message is going to go over some kids head. On top of that, I do think there might be a more niche market than they realized here. I get that Hotel Translyvania was quite successfully so they're hoping that this would catch on as well. I would have enjoyed it if I had it as a kid along with my sister. I don't necessarily know if more 'normal' kids who are into the mainstream will take to this though. This does encourage people to be themselves and to not assimilate into what society wants us to. It also has a big aspect of breaking family tradition and not forcing children into doing things that were done in the past as well.
This does also a really good job in embodying the Addams family. They say things that are off just a bit and it made me chuckle. In the end though, it does get problematic. Trying to kill your sibling is something that many of us wanted to do growing up, but these kids take it a step too far. I will say that the loving relationship between Gomez and Morticia is wonderful. They really show a couple embracing each other fully.
I will admit that being a children's movie, it does have issues building tension for me. The biggest problem is that their house could be destroyed or they could be run out of town. Yes, this is horrible and we should just let them be themselves as they don't bother anyone aside from throwing a party where their odd family members show up. It doesn't truly embody that I know something bad will happen and that I'm concerned for them. I know it will work out in the end and the stakes just aren't necessarily there. I will say that being it runs 86 minutes is at least a perfect length. It doesn't outstay its time for sure.
I will give credit to the animation though. It isn't the old school that I'm used to, but it definitely works. It actually feels like a Tim Burton film without being done by him. It is most definitely influenced by German Expressionism. Instead of the house or the scenery being contorted though, it is the people. Morticia and pretty much every young girl aside from Wednesday have impossibly lean bodies. I love this movement of films so seeing its influence is great.
The last thing to cover would be the soundtrack. It has the main theme we know and love. There are some songs that are played for laughs which I didn't mind. We also get Lurch singing REM, which I thought was hilarious. I will have to give credit here as the soundtrack fit for what was needed and I really noticed it in a good way.
Now with that said, I'm clearly not the target audience here and to be honest I'm not necessarily sure who is. I like that they tried to do a modern take on this, but going with animated, I'm not sure your more mainstream fans will dig this. It has a good message it is trying to convey of be yourself for sure as well as families needing to break tradition. I think it has a star-studded voice cast and the animation is pretty solid as well. I liked the soundtrack as a whole with a few songs that really made me chuckle. I did think this was above average overall, but definitely not great.
We start this off with someone getting ready. They screw their boots on and do something similar with their dress. We then see for eye shadow using the ashes of their mother and for blush the ashes of their father. This is Morticia (Charlize Theron) and we see her walking down a cobble street. Normal people flee in fright. She is on her way to her wedding to Gomez Addams (Oscar Isaac). It gets interrupted when the townspeople show up with swords, torches and catapults. They are able to get away thanks to Grandma (Bette Midler) and Uncle Fester (Nick Kroll). The couple then flees to find somewhere they can be themselves.
This takes them to New Jersey. Thing, a dismembered hand that moves on it own, is driving them. They hit someone who is in a straight-jacket. This turns out to be Lurch (Conrad Vernon). His jacket says there's a hospital for the criminally insane nearby and it is actually on top of a hill. They take it over and call it home. The spirit that lives there isn't necessarily happy about it though.
Through pictures we see that this couple has two children. The older is Wednesday (Chloë Grace Moretz) and then Pugsley (Finn Wolfhard). They are constantly trying to kill each other. The house is tense since Puglsey has a party coming up where there's a right of passage that he needs to perform. This involves dancing with a sword and he isn't ready. He instead wants to us explosives. Gomez won't give up on him though.
Things take a turn when the swamp that has hid the Addams family is drained and the fog surrounding them goes away. This reveals their house and much to the displeasure of Margaux Needler (Allison Janney). She is taking on a big endeavor for a renovation show she has to make over a whole town called Assimilation. When the Addams family comes to town and scares people for being different, she wants to try to get them to meet her requirements. Wednesday meets the daughter of Margaux, Parker (Elsie Fisher). Wednesday decides she wants to go to normal school, in part to rebel against her parents and the life she's been forced to live. When Margaux doesn't get her way, she takes matter into her own hands with some dark secrets.
To start off my recap, I first off have to say I'm shocked by the cast that we have in this film. I think that they do well in embodying the characters. Since this is animated, I can't go much off the actual performances. I do think that Isaac puts on a solid accent and takes on Gomez. Theron gives a different vibe to Morticia, but I also liked that. Moretz was a solid Wednesday. It really works that she plays it so deadpan and without emotion. Wolfhard as Pugsley is also quite good. I did have to laugh at the way Kroll does a lisp for Fester and I also thought Janney was good as the villain here. I guess what I'm trying to say is all of the voice acting was good across the board.
The problem that I have is I'm not entirely sure who this film is directed at. It is animated, but I do think a lot of the message is going to go over some kids head. On top of that, I do think there might be a more niche market than they realized here. I get that Hotel Translyvania was quite successfully so they're hoping that this would catch on as well. I would have enjoyed it if I had it as a kid along with my sister. I don't necessarily know if more 'normal' kids who are into the mainstream will take to this though. This does encourage people to be themselves and to not assimilate into what society wants us to. It also has a big aspect of breaking family tradition and not forcing children into doing things that were done in the past as well.
This does also a really good job in embodying the Addams family. They say things that are off just a bit and it made me chuckle. In the end though, it does get problematic. Trying to kill your sibling is something that many of us wanted to do growing up, but these kids take it a step too far. I will say that the loving relationship between Gomez and Morticia is wonderful. They really show a couple embracing each other fully.
I will admit that being a children's movie, it does have issues building tension for me. The biggest problem is that their house could be destroyed or they could be run out of town. Yes, this is horrible and we should just let them be themselves as they don't bother anyone aside from throwing a party where their odd family members show up. It doesn't truly embody that I know something bad will happen and that I'm concerned for them. I know it will work out in the end and the stakes just aren't necessarily there. I will say that being it runs 86 minutes is at least a perfect length. It doesn't outstay its time for sure.
I will give credit to the animation though. It isn't the old school that I'm used to, but it definitely works. It actually feels like a Tim Burton film without being done by him. It is most definitely influenced by German Expressionism. Instead of the house or the scenery being contorted though, it is the people. Morticia and pretty much every young girl aside from Wednesday have impossibly lean bodies. I love this movement of films so seeing its influence is great.
The last thing to cover would be the soundtrack. It has the main theme we know and love. There are some songs that are played for laughs which I didn't mind. We also get Lurch singing REM, which I thought was hilarious. I will have to give credit here as the soundtrack fit for what was needed and I really noticed it in a good way.
Now with that said, I'm clearly not the target audience here and to be honest I'm not necessarily sure who is. I like that they tried to do a modern take on this, but going with animated, I'm not sure your more mainstream fans will dig this. It has a good message it is trying to convey of be yourself for sure as well as families needing to break tradition. I think it has a star-studded voice cast and the animation is pretty solid as well. I liked the soundtrack as a whole with a few songs that really made me chuckle. I did think this was above average overall, but definitely not great.
Awful waste of time and the source material.
flybynight-9672225 October 2019
The plot was lame, and pretty much a remake of the first Addams family movie, they could have done so much more. Wasn't funny and the characters were rather muted. Morticia and Gomez were particularly one dimensional.
The animation was pretty average, I didn't really like the art style much.
The animation was pretty average, I didn't really like the art style much.
Not good but not bad
santyagohernandez12 October 2019
Basic but Fine
Neon_Gold17 June 2020
I don't really have any nostalgic memories of The Addams Family movies from the 90s. I have seen them but only recently and i thought they were both great but i don't have that nostalgic love for them like others.
People who loved the old movies seem to hate these movies and i can agree. It wa very very basic. I know its a children's film but so were the 90s ones but they were wrote great, the actors were fab and this is just chock full of things i hate about recent children's movies like stupid pop culture things, over use of phones and like social media. I get it these are big things for kids but it is so pandering and you can tell its like an adult writing it that's like "You know what kids love Tock Tic and Twittergram so lets have people in the movie love social media and instead of people using an actual on fire touch in a mob scene lets have them have pictures of lit torches on their phones because kids will find that hilarious".
The other issue plaguing children's movies these days which this movies suffers from is stunt casting. I get it, it helps sell tickets but some of the voices just don't work. Finn Wolfhard just doesn't fit well as the voice of Puglsey and he isn't the only one i didn't enjoy Nick Kroll as Uncle Fester he was just annoying to me where as Christopher Lloyd makes him a loveable oaf-type.
This movie was also very unfunny. I know i am not the target audience but the jokes were just like ??? i can't imagine that people thought that they would be funny even to a child.
It is a children's film so i didn't expect much and its like fine. Your kids might like it especially if they have no reference for The Addams family prior. I do think people who like The Addams Family property will not like this film though as it removes the darkness and sarcastic nature of other incarnation and replaces it with a very basic story.
People who loved the old movies seem to hate these movies and i can agree. It wa very very basic. I know its a children's film but so were the 90s ones but they were wrote great, the actors were fab and this is just chock full of things i hate about recent children's movies like stupid pop culture things, over use of phones and like social media. I get it these are big things for kids but it is so pandering and you can tell its like an adult writing it that's like "You know what kids love Tock Tic and Twittergram so lets have people in the movie love social media and instead of people using an actual on fire touch in a mob scene lets have them have pictures of lit torches on their phones because kids will find that hilarious".
The other issue plaguing children's movies these days which this movies suffers from is stunt casting. I get it, it helps sell tickets but some of the voices just don't work. Finn Wolfhard just doesn't fit well as the voice of Puglsey and he isn't the only one i didn't enjoy Nick Kroll as Uncle Fester he was just annoying to me where as Christopher Lloyd makes him a loveable oaf-type.
This movie was also very unfunny. I know i am not the target audience but the jokes were just like ??? i can't imagine that people thought that they would be funny even to a child.
It is a children's film so i didn't expect much and its like fine. Your kids might like it especially if they have no reference for The Addams family prior. I do think people who like The Addams Family property will not like this film though as it removes the darkness and sarcastic nature of other incarnation and replaces it with a very basic story.
Probably best to wait for it on Netflix
brookecandrews13 October 2019
I'm a huge Addams family fan, and this movie completely missed the mark. I think the whole story of "don't treat people badly because they are different" is great!, however the charm is completely lacking and overall just plain boring. I found myself squirming in the theater and even falling asleep. I'll put it this way..I'd choose to watch it over Addams family reunion...but not over any other Addams family adaptation
Wasted Opportunity
asclepias4512 October 2019
Good Fun
Pairic2 November 2019
The Addams Family: The animated Addams doesn't compare to the 1989 version but it's still good fun if you consider it as a kids film. Gomez and Morticia are being married in "the old country" when the wedding is disrupted by a torch and pitchfork wielding mob of villagers. Fleeing they decide to move to somewhere corrupt and horrible so they move to New Jersey, finding a nice haunted castle above a NJ swamp. They clasg with a developer who has built a new town on the drained swamp. Plenty of horror film and other cultural references which do generate a few laughs with a nice sending up of the Woke in song lyrics : "It's nice to be all the same when you have no choice!" sung in the new town Assimilation . Don't over-analyse the film, just enjoy it. 7/10.
Ooky October Fun
matthewssilverhammer18 October 2019
We seem to be at a plateau with Hollywood animation. While Pixar and Disney continue to push the boundaries of what computer-based animation can do both technically and artistically, most have figured out how to do the bare minimum to get in theaters.
Normally this would be considered purely lazy and cheap, and I suppose it is. However, this inability, or lack of desire, to advance the technical part of animation has caused some of them to lean more into the style and messaging. This was the case with Abominable (though unsuccessful, to me) and is also true for The Addams Family. The main difference is, with its "dead"-pan wordplay and gentle ribbing of American norms peppering its kind and content characters, Addams is just much more up-my-alley than the faux-sincerity in most kid's films.
We find our fiendish friends learning how to assimilate into their new neighborhood, only to experience some predictable pushback from the status quo. There's no real surprise of any kind in the plotting, and some of the voice-casting is less-than inspired (Kroll as Fester is especially obnoxious).
However, there's some unexpected social critiques here laying a foundation for the spooky schtick. Government-wielded assimilation, media manipulation, comparison-based capitalism; it's all clearly there if you want it from your children's entertainment.
In the end, this is just a great property. Unlike the Hotel Transylvania franchise, the Addams aren't just playing around the edges of the macabre, but are diving right in. The family at the center clearly care for each other, but because of the darkness in the humor, it rarely comes off as saccharine, providing inoffensive yet entertaining October fun that'll really make you screa-um.
Absolutely Abysmal
prezjay-7679113 October 2019
What used to be a childhood favorite, The Addams Family fails to recreate, or even build, the classic family. The main focus is on a gimmicky culture shaming plot, which focuses on Pugsley and Wednesday finding their identities. Save your money.
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